Monday, December 18, 2006

1. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury (Zomba/Re-Up/Star-Trak)The most generic style of wordplay in hip-hop that pollutes most of the music sounds so fresh on Hell Hath No Fury. Pusha T and Malice talk about the aftershock's about pushing drugs on the street. In "Dirty Money" they spit about showering their stripper bitches and college hoes with furs and jewelery. Then "Ride Around Shining" has the boys saying 'Float around in the greatest of Porsches / But like a Chuck wagon cause I’m on twelve horses / And the three behind mine / They be the clique / So much ice in they Rollies / They shit don’t tick man." The Neptunes (Although Chad Hugo isn't in the credits) give up the meanest beats in their stash for Hell Hath. "Ride Around Shining" is extremely minimal with the crunching bass and drums and the tingling piano swirling around like a magic wand. The production is ice cold."Ride Around Shining"

2. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (Anti)Let me tell you what you need to know. The best voice in music is presented on this album. The hottest and funniest girl in music makes the most subtly epic album of the year."John Saw That Number"

3. Boris - Pink (Southern Lord)All the metal heads will flip the switch about Mastodon, but Boris made the most energized album of the year. The Japanese threesome turn the amps to 11 on Pink and perfectly mix blistering metal with a drop and stir of shoegaze to appeal to a casual listener."The Woman On The Screen"

4. Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada)The digital claps and bass slaps brought to the table by producer XXXChange perfectly compliment Naeem Juwan aka MC Spank Rock. Naeem focuses almost all of his time praising booty and wanting more booty. Album highlight "Sweet Talk" starts up with Spank Rock saying 'Tap dat ass, tap dat ass' before later evolving into the craziest soul breakdown reminiscent of Diana Ross. From asses to Diana Ross, this is the most fun album of the year."Sweet Talk"

5. Rhymefest - Blue Collar (Allido/J Records)Some of the most intriguing stories or views are told by Rhymefest. On "Bullet" he discusses how young black males are forced or tricked into joining the army with specific details that bring the picture alive like 'He's in the mission where bullets flyin' and missin him / Wishin' he was a kid again with his family in Michigan' . Then on "Sister" he tells the tale of a woman who is addicted to drugs and brings down other people's lives with 'Fest commentating with 'He asked me why my momma love drugs more than me / I couldn't answer/ I sat back and peered in the sky / I thought it was rainin, but damn, there was tears in my eyes'. Wit and confidence is exemplified to a peak on Blue Collar."Bullet"

6. I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends (EMI [US Releaes Coming in 2007])One summer, Emanuel Lundgren invited all his friends over to record music. The final project is Let Me Introduce My Friends. This vibrant album is loaded with kazoos, horns, and anthems. Lots of anthems."We're From Barcelona"

7. The Game - Doctor's Advocate (Geffen)After being trampled with disses from G-Unit and losing Dr. Dre for his sophomore album, The Game had a lot to prove with only himself to depend on. The Game's flow has now transformed into a badass West-Side swaggering messiah. Ignore the name drops, and bump this shit."It's Okay (One Blood)"8. Bob Dylan - Modern Times (Columbia)Dylan's still whooping everyone's ass."Thunder On The Mountain"

9. Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That (Astralwerks/EMI)Phoenix' first two albums were disco-rock. They were trying to be fun, but the sound grew old, and was frustrating when you heard the potential in songs like "Too Young". They get a little rough around the edges for It's Never Been Like That and go into a more Strokes like direction delivering nice formulatic pop bundled up in a concise package."Long Distance Call"

10. Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time (Sub Pop)Everything All The Time is all the indie rock sounds molded into one album. A very sparse and densely produced album with echoing vocals, and slow drawling apreggios."Weed Party"

Ponch Power Albums

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The banner at the top is a painting, "Gazebo", by Ryan Malley who is the founder of theartprint.net. It is a great piece in my eyes, illustrating many things -- depending on which way you look at it. Ryan explains that it shows the tenderloin/tenderknob neighborhood that he has been living in the past two years.
I emailed asking for permission to not only use it, but tamper with it by adding the words Headless Ponch. I've been waiting for a reply and never receieved one. I do not know if that means no, but I am going to use it because it looks just too good.
Ryan or any employee of TheArtPrint, feel free to contact me and ask for me to take it down. Hope it doesn't bother you guys.